Today’s guest is William Boyles of Wyoming, Delaware. Bill returns
for this interview because of the major role he plays in our quest for
Alcoholics Anonymous history and the roots of the Christian Recovery Movement.
More significantly, because of his role in supporting and participating deeply
in our recent, week-long workshops in the State of Vermont.

Bill twice came to East Dorset, Vermont years back to participate
in my weekend A.A. history seminars at the Wilson House. He distributes free
large quantities of our history books. He was a major sponsor of the Second
Nationwide History Conference in Delaware. He left a prestigious job with a
Delaware utility, formed a non-profit Christian Recovery program called Won Way
Out, and also traveled from Delaware to Brentwood, (Northern) California, to be
a speaker at our Christian Recovery conference there.

Bill is a devoted Christian, a long-recovered AA, and much
involved in recovery outreach in his community, churches, and 12 Step meetings
Not surprisingly, when Bill came up to Vermont to be a participant in the A.A.
history workshops there, he brought a newcomer who probably enthused more over
the many places visited than anyone else in our group.

Today, Bill will tell us about the workshops, the Vermont
locations, the historical findings, and the challenges unearthed at St.
Johnsbury, East Dorset, and Norwich University. He will also discuss our
meetings in Manchester and the trip in general.

Take it away, Bill

Synopsis of the Bill Boyles Remarks in the Interview

St. Johnsbury, Vermont:

Bill traveled 8 hours up from
Delaware and 8 hours back with his newcomer friend, Charles B., and they joined
our workshops at St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Bill talked about Dr. Bob’s
birthplace and boyhood home on Summer Street. He was much interested in how “modest,”
“humble,” and “basic” the Smith home was. This particularly since Bob’s father
was not only a Judge and prominent in church, YMCA, and St. Johnsbury Academy
affairs, but also much involved in banking, legislative, and business affairs.
In short, Bill felt this reflected the entire Smith family traditions focused
on things spiritual rather than things material.

Bill and Charles attended meetings
at the Dr. Bob home. They noted that locals there knew very little about A.A.’s
Christian roots.

Bill was enthusiastic over the
entire trip, pointing out that he had been sober for more than 25 years, a
student of the Steps, the Big Book, and now of the A.A. cofounders.

From the whole scene, Bill believed
he had obtained a very clear picture of the importance to the Smiths of the
Word of God and pursuing Christian principles. He noted the significance of The
Great Awakening of 1875 in St. Johnsbury where thousands “came to know the
Lord.”

At North Congregational Church, he
was particularly struck by the archives showing the extensive participation of
the Smith family. Even records of the Sunday school and how much was paid by
each person. He reviewed the many resource volumes carefully, and he participated
in the dedication of the Dr. Bob Core Library there, urging people to stop in, and
gain the extensive information on A.A. History and the opportunity to access
it. He believes recovery people need much more information about the Christian
roots of A.A. and Dr. Bob’s Christian upbringing fully evidenced by the
resources at St. Johnsbury

Manchester, Vermont:

Bill had never been to Manchester
before. He was impressed by the wealth of the community residents. Particularly
the large homes of the “summer people” who included the entire family of Bill
Wilson’s wife, Lois Burnham, and the entire family of Bill’s sponsor Ebby
Thacher.

Much was learned by visiting the
First Congregational Church which was attended every week by Burr and Burton
Academy students, which reserved a pew in the church for those students, and
was the location of graduation and other functions for the students. He also
visited Burr and Burton Academy where Bill Wilson, Bill’s girlfriend Bertha
Bamford, Ebby Thacher, and Roger Perkins—son of the Congregational pastor with
whom Ebby boarded during his time at the Academy.

As he traveled, Bill sensed the
clear need for the Vermont facts concerning individuals in recovery. The roll
of the family was apparent. The Vermont locations were small towns. Community
was paramount, as was family and upbringing. He believed there is a similar
need today withmore fellowship in small
groups.

He enjoyed hanging out with other
workshop participants as the trip progressed. He expressed a special interest
in today’s technology where by MP3, newcomers and AAs can download talks. He
believes this is the wave of future information about A.A. History and the
Christian recovery movement.

Northfield, Vermont (location of Norwich University):

This huge, prestigious, and very
old United States military academy was attended by Bill Wilson, Ebby Thacher,
and Lois’s brother Rogers Burnham. Our team poured over the archives and the
well-stocked library.

Bill was particularly interested in
the detailed school records of courses and grades. He noted that Bill’ grades
indicated Bill had been poor in mathematics but excelled in English and French.

Jim H., our participant, driver,
and photographer, took over 800 photos throughout the workshop visits. Bill
commented that “seeing is believing.” Hence we will soon have pictures that we
can share with sponsees, newcomers, and at programs.

Bill noted the plaque devoted to
A.A. and Bill Wilson and its mention of 12 Steps for the symptoms of
addictions. He recalled the plaque at Dr. Bob’s house in St. Johnsbury which
specifically mentioned both alcoholism and addictions.

About our newcomer participant, Charles:

Bill pointed out that we had “dumped”
much information on him that left him somewhat baffled. But the sixteen hours
of travel enabled lots of talk about A.A. History. Charles was amazed at how
truly Christian A.A. was and even is today. He wanted to start carrying the
message. He was fired up to learn, see, and pass it on. Bill believed the
Spirit is leading him into full-time ministry.

Bill was very interested in seeing the production of a
documentary, of many photos, writings, and website materials on A.A. History
and the Christian Recovery Movement. He was most

thankful for the participation of Tuchy Palmieri from
Connecticut—who is reprinting so many Oxford Group and other historical books
that Bill himself has studied and believes should be more widely read.

About Me

Richard G. Burns holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Stanford University where he was Case Editor of the Stanford Law Review. He was a Phi Beta Kappa in his Junior Year at UC Berkeley. There he received an A.A. degree in economics with Honorable Mention. He was an Information and Education Specialist in the United States Army where he held the rank of Sgt. He attended the information-education school at Washington & Lee University. He practiced law in California from 1951 to 1986. He was president of the Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce, Corte Madera Center Merchants Council, Mill Valley Community Church, Redwoods Retirement Center, and Almonte District Improvemen Club. Also elected Director of the Almonte Sanitary District. He is a writer, historian, retired attorney, Bible student, CDAAC, and active recovered member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous with continuous sobriety beginning April 21, 1986.

He writes under the pen name Dick B. He has devoted 24 years to researching the history and successes of the early A.A. Christian Fellowship in Akron; and published 46 titles, more than 1450 articles, and materials on Facebook, Twitter, MauiHistorian.Blogspot.com, Alcoholics Anonymous History.com, In the Rooms, Linked-in, Tumbler, MauiHistorian.Word Press.com, Aa Historian WordPress.com, AA History with Dick B. on cyber recovery social, Dick B. YouTube Channel, Articles Base, GoArticles.com, SearchWarp, Self Growth Experts, Social network forums on International Christian Recovery Coalition Forums, Recovery Internet Fellowship, Cyber Recovery, Daily Recovery, Christian Recovery Ministries, radio, TV, and over 70 audio blogs on the history subject. He regularly conducts radio interviews of Christian Recovery Leaders and Workers on www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com.

He is Executive Director of the International Christian Recovery Coalition and of Freedom Ranch Maui Incorporated. He is an Advisor to God's Way Ministry, a Christian Church and is also a consultant to Wyoming Pacific Oil Company. Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Law, Who's Who in Finance, and Gale's Contemporary Authors